Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-12

he would on special occasions. calmly assume re-
| sponSibiiltieS others Shrank from.
AS CHIEF OF STAFF
at the Headquarters of the Army OF the Cumber.
land he counseed an early aggressive movement
on the enemy against the Judgment of the com.
| handing general and nearly all the corps and
| division commanders OF that army. In this was
exhibited in a peculiar light the bold and indie
| pendent spirit OF man ready to act when all
soDund him hesitated, and willing to stand or fall
| by the event.
great cities, awe-struck at first changed into
a fury OF Indignation, threatening to rise up and
| avenge the monster crime. General Garfield was
| in the metropolis New York; OF the Republic. He
| there witnessed the swaylng, tumultuOus masses,
tempest tossed with Indignation, and with fear for
our government. Majestically and calmly he
viewed the threatening, stormy scene. lie knew
| the awful power OF the uncontrolled and un-
| guided people.
| cred, hands uplifted and face turned heavenward,
| in solemn. reverential voice he proclaimed:
"God reigns; and the government at Washing
/ He thus, invoking the Supreme power, in imita-
ton OF the Son OF God, who stlled the tempest on
stillcd ;he tempest raging over that sea Of hu,
| manity and With his words ecnoing from ocean
sn0rS to shore brought peace and hope to the
He had his enemies, some personal and moye
| political He had done too much good not TO
uiSpIedSuIc Vi the QeVOteeS OF evil ne
had, through honesty and personal integrity, at
| tained too exalted place In thhe hearts OF his
| countrymen not to incite the envy and jealousy
OF THOSE whose highest ambition in life and whose
hopes for popular recognition rest upon their
ability TO defame and assassnate the character Of
others. He was at times violently unjtlstly yea
cruelty assailed. He knew. however that such
enemies were like the discriminating mongreL
ours that neglect to bark at the SLOW moving
freight train but become fiercely demonstrative
at the flying express He was strengthened by
THESE assaults as the sturdy OAK is slrengt hened
BY tie storms OF Heaven carUening through its
boughs. Through all the assaults, born OF envy
and jealousy, which were made upon him, he pre-
served heroic cainneSs and equanimity OF spirit,
belonging only TO the truly great.
lie declined TO let his enemies control his
thoughts and actions or to disturb his plans and
purposes, and moved steadily on. He was, how
ever. swift TO forgive them.
General Garneid was nominated and elected
President OF the United States In 1880, after
more than usually exciting campaign. He did not
seek the non1natiOn; it came TO him.
Whlie he did not personally enter the political
canvass succeeding his nomination, yet, at rail-
way stations and IN response to delegations and
sublfInely beautiful in sentiment, grand in
Thought. noble In ideas and sound in principle.
fore MS nomination to the Presidency, but on
being elected President, he resigned as Senator
and never took his seat in that body.
AS PRESIDENT.
March 4, 1881, he was inaugurated President of
the United States. His intimate knowledge OF all
Departments OF the Government and his ripe man.
hood qualified him for this high Office but in the
four months, during which lie exercised the func-
lions OF President, he had not time to deal with
many OF the graver affairs OF State. The Congress
was not in session during his rule.
On July 2, 1881, the bullet OF the assassin laid
him low.
brilliant expectations ola man OF singularly buoy
ant spirit; the most exalted aspirations OF q man
who had assembled through his own effort to the
highest governmental Office In the world, oil,
ended with that fatal shot His wound was mortal;
yet hope reigned so strongly within him and his
Will power Was SO great that he almost defeated
cruel fate. He was told he had one chance in a
thousand for life. Buoyantly and almost cheer
fully he said: 81 ,ciH lake that one chance"
While his wound was yet bleeding, had, in
company with Gen. Sherman, a last interview with
him. The pellor OF death was on his brow His
thoughts ran back to the House OF Representatives
In which he had so long served. His final request
10 me Was: "Rensena6er me TO The Dlen.Gers Of the
Otd House, ke!Jer."
The prayers Of an outraged people assembled on
During eighty days OF accomplishing heroism
he suffered; then, by the sea- symbolic OF his great,
busy, restless, turbulent existence, with high duty
molly fulfilled behind him. and with the soundless
waves OF eternity before him. his noble life went
out, and his immortal spirit winged its way Join
his twin Presidential martyr his dead comrades OF
the Army ana faithful dead congressional col
leagues and friends before the throne OF God.
My cOmra0eS: lie now muSterS with that Larger
part of the Army OF the cumberland, who having
paid the penalty OF devotion TO cause and country
and fulfilled LIES earthly mission, have passed on
J'AAA wan
grave.
Thomas. your beloved commander, who stood.
with his corps, as rock OF adamant, On the left
at Chickamauga, who directed the Army OF the
Cumberland to victory up the rugged heights OF
Missionary Ridge, and under the brilliant leader
ship OF Sherman, with his army, held the center
in the bloody campaign from Chattanooga to
Atlanta, and at Nashville defeated and DESTROYED
The last great Confederate army In the West, Is
there; Mcpherson, the gallant young commander
OF the Army OF the Tennessee, who won laurels
on many fields and who fell "bOOted and spurred"
cannon'S roar, is there; Meade, the modest,
thoughtful soldier, who, within seven days Of the
time ne was elevated 10 the command Of the Army
OF the Potomac, met and overthrow the best army
OF The Confederacy under its idOliZed leader, Lee
at gettysburg, and safely led his army through
the bloody Wilderness, Spotsylyania, Cold Harb0r,
around Petersburg and at AppOmattOx, Is there;
Hooker, who fought the Army OF the Potomac at
Chancellorsyille and subsequently led his corps
Mountain, and in the mist and above the clouds,
commingled the peals OF battle with the thunders
OF the skies, is there; Burnside, whO while CON-
fought it at Fredericksburg, and who, later
on, rolled back from Knoxville the
rebel a,s. hosts and took and held East
people, Is there; Mcclellan, who fought the Army
OF the Potomac around Richmond and defeated
the enemy at Malvern Hill and Antietam, is there:
hancock, the superb, who fought valiantly for the
Union on many fields OF blood and especially dis
unguished himself at Gettysburg, is there; Logan,
toe hero OF hard-fOught fields on the Mississippi
around Vlcksbury, AT Chattanooga, from thence TO
Atlanta. Is there; Grant, Grant, VINO, from the day
he Caused the eagles or The Union TO soar to vic
tory above the rampartS OF Fort DOnelsOn, mar
Shaiing with cadenced step, later on, a million OF
loyal soldiers In battle array, to the supreme mo-
ment when he unOstentatiously took the sword OF
Lee at ApponattOx, was the central figure OF the
war, Is there; Farragut, who taught new lessons
In naval warfare in taking forts and batteries in
the mouth OF the Mississippi, and who, dashed TO
the mast OF his flagship. amid shot and shell.
sailed into Mobile harDOr at the head of his daunt-
less fleet, Is also there; FOote, Dahlgren, Gushing
and dupont, who each maJesticaIly trod the ships
deck in mortal combat, on river lake. gull ana
the OillOwy sea, are there.
All that long list OF dead officers and soldiers
and sailors OF the Army and Navy OF the Union
are there.
WHAT GALAXY OF HEROIC DEAD!
We are all soon to be there, and muster again as
one reunited host.
More people mourned the death OF James Abraa
Garfield than ever before mOurned the death OF
or ruler. The 5O,o0O,cOO or citizens OF this re-
public stood around his bier and shed burning
tears OF SORROW; and the good Of the world
mOurned sincerely with them. Britatns prOud
queen laid norai tribute on his funeral casket
The most humble citizens OF this nation were the
slncerest moufners ut his tomb.
In the hour OF the nations deepest SOrrow how
many, from the anguish OF their souls cried out !.
''God reins: and the Goceran,eat at Vashin0-
ton stiti {tres'
Garfield dead! Commanding the highest art OF
the most gifted Sculptor-artist OF this advanced
age his comrades or the field, aided by his coun-
try, have placed this statue here In commentator
OF his good deedSin life. What he so willingly
and so often helped to do for Others OF his COM